Preview: Internacional vs. Olimpia - prediction, team news, lineups

Internacional host Olimpia in their third match of the Copa Libertadores group stages on Wednesday evening, looking to claim their second victory of the campaign.

The two teams, along with fellow Group B sides Always Ready and Deportivo Tachira, have three points each after winning and losing in their opening two games.

Match preview

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Internacional responded from their 2-0 defeat to Always Ready with a convincing 4-0 victory over Deportivo Tachira last week, despite playing the final half hour with 10 men.

Goals from Victor Cuesta, Patrick Nascimento, Thiago Galhardo and Yuri Alberto helped secure all three points for the hosts, which sees them sit at the top of Group A on goal difference.

Since that result, Miguel Angel Ramirez's men lost 1-0 to Juventude in the first leg of the Campeonato Gaucho semi-final. Although the Reds will be focused on Wednesday's Copa Libertadores encounter, one eye is sure to be on the second leg.

Internacional will be looking to bounce back from that defeat and secure a win against Olimpia, keeping their chances of progressing to the Copa Libertadores knockout stages alive.

Like Internacional, Olimpia bounced back from losing their opening Group B match, when they beat Always Ready 2-1 on home soil last week.

Despite falling behind just after the hour mark when Diego Polenta put the ball into his own net, Sergio Orteman's side were able to turn the game on its head as former Bayern Munich and Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz tapped in from close range before Richard Ortiz smashed in the winner 10 minutes from time, securing all three points for the hosts.

Since then, Olimpia were dealt a blow in the Paraguayan Primeira Division title race, as they lost 2-0 away to rivals Cerro Porteno, which leaves both sides level on points with Club Libertad at the top of the table, although Libertad have a game in hand.

Olimpia have failed to progress from the group stages of the Copa Libertadores in each of the last two seasons, but a victory on Wednesday night would move them one step closer to securing their place in the knockout stages this year.

Team News

Internacional winger Carlos Palacios was shown two yellow cards in last week's win against Deportivo Tachira so this is likely to see one of Alberto or Caio Vidal start in his absence.

Ramirez has rotated his goalkeeping options this season, but he seems to have stuck with Marcelo Lomba now, and he is expected to feature again on Wednesday.

Right-back Heitor da Fonseca started on the bench in the last Copa Libertadores match, but could return to the first XI at the expense of Rodinei.

For Olimpia, Alejandro Silva was sent off for two bookable offences against Tachira in their opening Group A match, but the midfielder is back in contention to start in midweek.

Goalkeeper Gaston Olveira is set to start his fourth successive match ahead of Alfredo Aguilar, while Santa Cruz could replace striker Walter Gonzalez in the first XI.

Internacional possible starting lineup:
Lomba; Da Fonseca, Gabriel, Cuesta, Moises; Dourado, Edenilson, Mauricio; Vidal, Galhardo, Patrick

Olimpia possible starting lineup:
Aguilar; Otalvaro, Caceres, Alcaraz, Torres; Silva, Ortiz, Recalde; Acosta, Estigarribia; Santa Cruz

We say: Internacional 2-0 Olimpia

Internacional have won three of their last five games in all competitions, scoring 15 goals in the process, while Olimpia have conceded in each of their last six matches.

The hosts will be heading into Wednesday's fixture as the favourites and we feel that their firepower in attack can help secure all three points at the Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borda.